Almost every Australian homeowner asks the same question at some point in a renovation: "Do I actually need approval for this?" The honest answer is that it depends—on what you're building, how big it is, where your block sits, and which state or territory you live in. Some jobs, like repainting a fence or replacing kitchen cabinetry, are unlikely to need anything from the council. Others, like a second storey addition or a new dwelling in the backyard, almost certainly will.
This guide walks through the general framework used across Australia so you can work out roughly where your project sits, understand the terminology (DA, CDC, permit, certifier) and know what questions to ask before you pick up a hammer. Rules are set and enforced locally and they change over time, so treat this as a starting point, not a final answer—always confirm the specifics with your local council or a licensed building certifier before you start work.
Most Australian planning systems sort building work into a few broad categories, though the exact names differ by state. Understanding the general idea behind each one helps you know what kind of conversation you need to have with your council.
Every state uses some version of this three-tier idea, but the names, thresholds and paperwork differ. Your local council's planning or building department, or its website, is the best place to confirm which category your project falls into.
As a general guide only, the following types of work commonly require some form of approval in most parts of Australia:
Work that is more often (though not always) treated as exempt or low-impact includes internal-only renovations that don't touch structure, like-for-like kitchen and bathroom refits, repainting, minor landscaping, and small garden structures well within setback and height limits. Even so, "often exempt" is not the same as "always exempt"—a project that would be exempt on one block can require approval on another because of its zoning, overlays, heritage status or previous approvals. Always check your specific property before assuming a job doesn't need sign-off.
While the finer details vary by council, most approval pathways in Australia follow a broadly similar sequence:
Because requirements and terminology shift between councils and states, it's worth asking your council or certifier to walk you through the exact sequence for your specific project before you commit to a builder or a start date.
One of the most common points of confusion is the difference between planning approval and building approval. They ask different questions and are often issued by different bodies.
For many renovations you may need both, often in sequence: planning approval first, then a separate building permit before construction can legally begin. For simpler jobs that fall under a complying or fast-track pathway, the two can sometimes be combined or handled entirely by a private certifier. Because the sequencing and terminology genuinely differ from state to state, ask your council or certifier up front whether your project needs one approval, two, or a combined pathway.
Planning and building law in Australia is administered at state and territory level, then applied locally by individual councils, so the same-looking renovation can be treated quite differently depending on where the property is. In general terms:
Because thresholds (such as maximum height, floor area or boundary distance for exempt work), required documentation and even the names of each pathway are set and updated by each jurisdiction, and can be further tightened by individual councils through local planning controls or heritage overlays, this guide can only describe the general shape of the system. Please treat any specific figures, distances or size limits you read elsewhere—including in this article—as a starting point only, and confirm current requirements directly with your local council or a licensed certifier in your state before finalising plans.
Timeframes and fees vary widely depending on the council, the complexity of the project, whether objections are raised, and whether you use the council or a private certifier. As general patterns only:
Because fees are set individually by each council or certifier and reviewed periodically, avoid relying on any figure you've seen quoted online, including here. Ask your council or certifier for an itemised, current fee estimate for your specific project before you budget your renovation.
Carrying out work that needed approval but didn't get it can create serious problems well beyond an awkward conversation with council. Depending on the situation, consequences can include:
Even well-intentioned owner-builders can be caught out, particularly with older additions built by a previous owner without paperwork. If you're not sure whether existing work on a property was approved, ask the current or previous council for its records, or engage a certifier or building inspector to check before you renovate further or list the property for sale.
In most Australian states, licensed private certifiers (sometimes called building surveyors, depending on the state) can carry out many of the same approval and inspection functions as council, particularly for complying-development style pathways and building approvals. Using a private certifier can offer:
Certifiers are still bound by the same state legislation, building code and local planning controls as the council—they're not a way around the rules, just an alternative, regulated channel for having compliant work assessed and inspected. Before engaging one, confirm they're currently licensed and accredited in your state, ask about their experience with similar projects, and clarify exactly what they will and won't cover. Your council can usually point you to a public register of accredited certifiers if you're not sure where to start.
Not sure what your project will cost once approvals are factored in? Our renovation cost calculator gives you a starting point.
A licensed builder or certifier can guide you through the approval pathway — browse local licensed trades and builders and read our guide to hiring a builder. Planning a bigger project? See our house extension cost guide and renovation timeline guide.
A like-for-like refit that doesn't move plumbing, alter structure or change the building's footprint is often exempt in many areas, but if you're moving walls, changing drainage significantly, or the property has heritage or other overlays, approval may still be needed. Confirm with your local council before starting, especially if plumbing or structural changes are involved.
Small, low structures that are well within height and boundary setback limits are often treated as exempt or fast-tracked in many councils, but thresholds vary significantly by state and by individual council planning controls. Check the specific height, size and setback rules for your property before you build, rather than assuming a similar structure down the street was exempt for the same reasons.
You may face fines, a stop-work order, a requirement to apply retrospectively (which isn't guaranteed to succeed), or an order to remove or rebuild the work. Unapproved work can also complicate insurance claims and cause problems when you come to sell. If you're unsure whether your project needs approval, it's worth confirming with your council before work begins rather than after.
It depends heavily on the pathway and the council. Complying or fast-track approvals, especially through a private certifier, are often the quickest measured in weeks; full development applications generally take longer, particularly if public notification or referrals to other agencies are required. Ask your council or certifier for a current estimate specific to your project and location.
Not exactly. Private certifiers are licensed professionals who can assess and approve many types of work under the same state laws and building code that councils use, and they carry out required inspections during construction. They're a regulated alternative channel to council for many jobs, not an informal shortcut, and some projects may still need separate planning approval from council as well.
In most cases, yes—secondary dwellings typically require either a complying/fast-track approval or a full development application, along with a separate building approval, plus compliance with rules on minimum lot size, parking and setbacks that vary by council. Because these structures involve habitable space and often separate services, it's especially important to confirm requirements with your council or a certifier before committing to a design.
